Pawo Choyning Dorji

Pawo Choyning Dorji (Dzongkha: དཔའ་བོ་ཆོས་དབྱིངས་རྡོ་རྗི།; born 23 June 1983; Darjeeling) is a Bhutanese filmmmaker, writer, photographer. His feature directorial debut Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (2019) was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards. His second film The Monk and the Gun (2023) was shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film for the upcoming 96th Academy Awards. Dorji is the youngest recipient of Bhutan's highest civilian award, the Druk Thuksey, the Heart Son of the Thunder Dragon. It was bestowed to him by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

As a photographer, Dorji has contributed to publications such as VICE, Esquire, and Life. He has authored a number of photography essay books. His third book Light of the Moon was shot over the course of five years. Dorji, a devout Buddhist, is a student of renowned Budd...